Use of a widely available steroid called dexamethasone on patients in England, increasing their survival rate, has been hailed as a “breakthrough” across the world and as exciting news by the South African government’s COVID-19 task team. They have said that medical staff in the country should consider the use of  dexamethasone on patients on […]

South Coast Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has shared an awesome video today, Tuesday 16 June 2020, of several sharks surrounding a huge shoal of sardines in what is usually a popular surf spot. South Coast Tourism called it the “Greatest Shoal on Earth 2020” and described it as “epic footage of today’s sardine run […]

On Tuesday morning 16 June 2020, the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, News24 published an article chronicling a timeline of the events that proved to be a turning-point in South Africa in the fight against apartheid. For one person in Groot Marico who read that article – community worker Santa van Bart – it […]

South African youth from various formations have called on the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, to ensure that economic recovery from Covid-19 is just, green, inclusive and youth and gender-responsive. Creecy today hosted a virtual Youth Environment and Sustainability Dialogue, where young South Africans presented a wide range of ideas and suggestions […]

The unfolding US-China power rivalry bears a striking resemblance to the tensions between the US and the Soviet bloc during the Cold War years. Back then, African countries were positioned like pawns on a grand chessboard. Their social and economic progress was hampered because they expended energy aligning themselves with either of the superpowers in the battle […]

Sphamandla Khumalo tragically died in a fire that ripped through Malacca Road informal settlement in Redhill, Durban, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The fire has left about 150 people homeless. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the fire was being investigated. It started at about 2am according to residents and took about […]

South Africans have been left reeling by a viral video showing a tragic incident near Grabouw, about an hour from Cape Town, in which a couple from Somerset West both lost their lives.They have been named as retired pharmacist Ben Wiid, 61, and his wife Riana, 58, a retired teacher. The video captures the heartbreaking […]

There are times of spectacular policy myopia – and promoting a revision to the Meat Safety Act by the South African government is surely one of these moments. In late February the government proposed adding over 90 local and non-indigenous species to the list of animals regulated under the Meat Safety Act. Prior to this […]

The Western Cape government’s Hospital of Hope, created at the Cape Town International Conference Centre, is the largest COVID-dedicated hospital in Africa. The wards with 862 beds was created in 26 days, with staff working 24 hours a day. The hospital opened on 5 June. WATCH the time-lapse video of how it all came together. […]

While the Eastern Cape is going through a health crisis, unable to deal with the COVID pandemic, the ANC’s “delusional” health MEC has been showing off 100 scooters that won’t be able to handle rural roads, according to the Demoractic Alliance. Instead of focusing on the crisis at hand, said Jane Cowley, DA Eastern Cape […]

Ultimately, it took Chantal Revell, a descendant of the Khoi and San royalty, to initiate a change in South Africa’s electoral system. This has been a contentious subject for almost 20 years. An official task team was set up to resolve it and it has gripped the attention of opposition parties, elevating the subject to […]

The South African government has reiterated its commitment to improve its response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). This comes after another brutal murder this past weekend, following what President Cyril Ramaphosa had already described as South Africa’s “dark and shameful week”… where the country mourned what appeared to be a spike in violent murders […]

To coincide with the launch of his new book, an exposé of the “despicable” captive-bred lion industry in South Africa, UK businessman, philanthropist and former Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Lord Ashcroft has posted the video below which reveals some shocking truths about SA’s terrible trade. The new book – ‘Unfair Game’ – discloses […]

South African golfing legend Gary Player has won back the rights to his name and likeness in a settlement with a company headed up by his eldest son, Marc. The company – called the Gary Player Group – will also have to pay the 85-year-old golf champion $5-million. The payment is reportedly for royalties due […]

The biggest-ever sporting tournament in South Africa began a decade ago today and was a golden opportunity to build Cape Town and South Africa as a popular tourist destination. “It also proved what we can achieve by working together, and during the current global coronavirus pandemic, we can help stop the spread if we all […]

The driver of the 12-ton truck which ploughed at high speed into 10 vehicles at midday on Wednesday in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has appeared in court in South Africa, and been remanded in custody until 19 June for a bail hearing. The horrific and fatal crash into cars and pedestrians at an open-air market in Jozini, […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to end the culture of silence around gender-based violence and report perpetrators to the South African Police Service (SAPS). This comes as the body of a young woman was found dumped under a tree in Dobsonville, Soweto on Friday. Since South Africa entered coronavirus alert level […]

Chad le Clos is recovering well from two necessary surgeries, which came in a window of opportunity due to the Covid-19 lockdown and postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. The 28-year-old swimming superstar is still expected to be out of action for between three and five more weeks. ‘I’ve been having abdominal pain for as long […]

Dune Coetzee, one of the rising stars of South African swimming, has decided to continue her career in the United States after next year’s Tokyo Olympics. The 18-year-old has not lost a butterfly race in South Africa for three years but she knows she needs to get even faster if she is to reach her […]

Four alleged poachers have been arrested in Uganda for the tragic death of a rare Silverback mountain gorilla, known as Rafiki. They claim it was self-defence. Rafiki belonged to the famous Nkuringo Gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. At the time of his death the group had 17 members – one Silverback, three Blackbacks, […]

With the Cold Front that hit parts of South Africa this week, and the SA Weather Service warning of big swells… locals made their way to what has become a legendary spot for viewing big waves – Kalk Bay Harbour in the Western Cape. But one spectator got more than he bargained for, when mammoth […]

Showmax has since May been releasing “a whole pride” of programmes – series, reality shows and movies – celebrating the LGBTIAQ+ community, and the latest are six great African series and movies, five from South Africa, including “Kanarie” and “Inxeba (The Wound)”. “In the past few years, TV series and movies have made great strides […]

Over the past seven days, COVID-19 cases in Gauteng have doubled, with hospital admissions increasing and 20 more deaths, according to Premier David Makhura. “Gauteng has entered a new period in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is gaining momentum. We must face this reality head-on and mobilise all resources and energy to […]

This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates a mystery that took place at a guest house on a farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, near to Kareedouw. You can watch the show on Sunday 14 June in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tues 16  June if you’re abroad. […]

The city has been hit by hail, lightning, thunder and heavy rain since Wednesday, report Ashraf Hendricks, Buziwe Nocuze and Lucas Nowicki of GroundUp. Cape Town is being treated to hail, thunder, lightning and pouring rain. Walkways and roads across the Cape Flats have turned into pools. In Qandu Qandu, informal settlement in Khayelitsha some […]